Estate sales and yard sales

[fan-of-fans]

Do you regularly go to yard or estate sales?

I personally don't go as often as I used to. The estate sales typically start on Thursday so by the time it's Saturday and I can go, I figure there's not much left. But I have had a few good finds.

I like mostly to see the houses and appliances. There have been some sales at really cool and beautiful places. Everything from historic, to mid-century to mcmansion.

Yard sales I usually do even less, unless I see an ad for one that sounds really good or I happen to pass by one that looks really good. I usually just don't have much luck with them as I do estate sales.

The biggest reasons I don't go to estate sales lately is I have trouble getting out of the house early on Saturday, I move slow on the weekends. I feel like if I can't get out of the house by 9 AM it's not worth going if I want to find something good. Also we don't get the newspaper anymore, and they have made their online section by subscription only. So unless we happen to buy a newspaper, I have to rely on estatesales.net, which doesn't have everything.

What I usually do anymore is if there are good estate sales locally, I'll go but most of my Saturday morning 'junking' is at thrift stores and the flea market now. I rarely buy anything, but I enjoy driving around on a nice cool morning.

 

[tolivac]

Yard sales out here so far have been duds-kids stuff,broken toys,clothes,but nothing interesting.No appliances or vacuums or good books.

 

[turquoisedude]

I still go but the really cool vintage stuff seems to have dried up long ago.  But, every now and then, I still manage to turn up something like turquoise plastic kitchen canisters or C6 Christmas light bulbs!

 

Auctions seem to be the preferred way to clear out estates in our neck of the woods - I tend to stay away, though.  I don't much care for having to hang around for hours to see an item you want get sold for a ridiculously high price. Worse still, auctioneers here like to combine lots - I've bought items I really, really didn't want just to get one item I did.  

 

 

 

[countryford]

I still do estate sales and still find some pretty cool stuff. I usually go onto estatesales.net and check what is going on in the area. Sometimes they have good stuff, and sometimes they don't. Just depends.

 

[yogitunes]

I have been to demo-model homes from new developments.....

after all the homes have been sold, the last to go is the model/demo unit....

many times the homes are furnished, and the new owners don't want anything that was included....

I was able to get appliances, never used, and extremely cheap....

I got a new Kitchen Aid dishwasher, only because I was the only one who brought tools to disconnect it....but had I got there earlier, I would have gotten the whole kitchen.....

just make yourself aware of these developments in your surrounding areas.....sometimes they advertise these sales, other times I left my name and number in case the model sold, and the furnishings were up for sale...

 

[bendix5]

I agree you have to get to estate sales early Cole. We are retired now but that doesn't stop us from sleeping in sometimes. We also use Estatesales.net. They are good if the sale company posts good pictures and descriptions. We have got to know a couple of the companies and they are good to us with pricing and we appreciate the fact they remember us. They are honest too. We don't collect much anymore because of room or need. We do collect vintage Christmas, fenton colored glass and Jewel Tea. My wife is a quilter so she is always looking for supplies and anything to do with it. We seldom go to garage sales now days. I do check craigs list and if it says the people have lived there 40 or 50 years we will go by. Did find 9 ge pink Christmas light bulbs this year for a buck at one of those sales. We were happy as can be walking to the car. It is nice what makes a couple of old people happy these days. Here is one we will stop at Thursday if you want to look for fun.
My wife quilts with the lady of the house. Her family are 3rd generation to live there. There is so much more that the pictures show. There is a lot of great history to learn at estate sales because everyone talks about the past and people etc. Happy hunting everyone and we hope you find that hidden treasure you have been looking for. Dano

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[countryford]

One other thing that I forgot to mention. Usually the estate sales well have 50% off on the last day, to clear the place out. I will find some good deals on those days. I went to one and they had an old radio from the late 1920's. Cabinet was in nice condition. I liked it, but they wanted about $100 for it. Not a bad price, but more than I was willing to pay for. I ended up returning on the last day and it was still there. I got it for about $50.

 

[polkanut]

I 2nd what Justin said.

Several years ago I picked up a Hoover Model 68 with a ton of bags, but no attachments for $5.00 on the last day of the estate sale of a 98 year old retired banker who had passed away a month earlier.

 

Here's the listing for an upcoming local sale that really looks like it has some pretty cool stuff up for sale. 

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estatesales.org